I was sad that I was unable to attend the commissioning service at Paris First United Methodist Church this morning. Several of my team members sent me a message saying it was a very meaningful service. I am so thankful to Debi Selby for writing a synopsis to share on the blog. There truly are no words to express our gratitude to our church, family, friends, and above all, to God for making this trip possible. Thanks to Dr. Rob and Dr. Joe Geary for blessing this trip and for keeping our focus on praising and serving God and showing his love through our work and "walk".
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"The excitement of the team for the upcoming mission is mounting. Everyone is ready and anticipating the trip we have been planning and working towards over the last months. This morning in the 8:30 service at FUMC, the excitement rose another notch as we were commissioned by our pastor, Dr. Rob Martin, our district superintendent Dr. Joe Geary and our congregation for the mission trip. Dr. Rob asked us in a responsive reading if we would serve Christ, show his love and live our lives in such a way that Christ would be seen in the work we were about to undertake. Then each team member, one by one, knelt at the prayer rail and family and friends as well as the two pastors laid hands on us and prayed for us concerning this trip and our work, that both might be blessed. There was a suitcase of medical supplies at each end of the prayer rail, and after we were each blessed, Dr. Joe prayed over the supplies that they might be used to help the people of Sierra Leone.
Wow! After a service like that it is hard to wait the 4 days until we meet again to undertake this journey of faith. Yes, we feel the power of the Lord in this trip and we just know great things are going to happen, that we will have the chance in just 4 days to "help one of the least of these" (Matt. 25:40). Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to prepare and then carry out our mission using our God-given talents and our love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Dr. Debi
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